Mablethorpe Beach Racing 

5 February 2023

The Pistonclick team usually makes a few visits to the Lincolnshire coast to experience and photograph the winter beach racing series. Last Sunday was our first trip this winter to watch the racing run by Mablethorpe Sandracing Events. They are hosting nine events this season on a half mile standard turn left oval track marked out on the Mablethorpe beach.

The first race usually starts around 10am or as soon as the tide has receded far enough to mark the track out with a few cones. Spectators are welcome and it’s free to watch, with most of the crowd lining the promenade where you can find cafes who will sort you out with a hearty breakfast if you have arrived early.

The team generally do get to the sea front before the action starts, and although it’s not unknown for the PistonClick team to take on some pre-event fuel, this time it was to get some pre-race shots.

Well that was the plan then some bacon smells wafted in our direction! Post race shot it will be then! If you don’t arrive early enough for breakfast you can sample some seaside cuisine at lunch when there is break in the racing.

The riders will sign on from 08:30 with the paddock located to the left of the track on the beach. In the past the paddock has been open for spectators to wander round but there are now signs up telling you to keep out. Understandable, as it is a working paddock/pits with fuel and motorcycles moving around from the riders' vans to the start line, so it was only a matter of time that the risk assessment/insurance would dictate no spectators.

With a decent sized lens it’s not a problem for the spectator photographer with the right kit.

Talking of kit, for this assignment I used the crop sensor Nikon D7200 with a 200-400mm f4 with a 1.4 teleconverter which stayed on all day. Having been to the sand racing for a good few years I knew I would be some distance from the action. My shooting buddy for the day also went crop with a Nikon D500 and a 200-500mm lens. 

So what can the spectator photographer expect when visiting the racing on Mablethorpe beach? There are classes for all levels of experience from the very young riders on tiny motorcycles to the full on race prepped speedway machines.

The location is great with good views of the action which comes thick and fast with only a short pause between races. And when there is an incident, which there were a few, the riders are back on it quickly.

The majority of riders will be on motocross bikes, with those going for it sporting a steel boot which is a must when you are taking part in turn left racing. There were quite a few stand out riders with the regulars putting on a great show for the large crowd.

One of those regulars is Steve Lomax who rode with the Weymouth Wildcats back in 1974. He went on to ride with some of the best teams of the time. Retiring from speedway 1986, he now runs a motorcycle wheel rebuilding service called Five-one Wheels based in Louth. Last time we saw him at the beach he had a bit of a moment, but like all true racers he was back in the action last weekend. 

Arran Butcher in the "Grass" Class is always impressive when we see him on the beach. His entry speed into the corners (do you have corners on an oval track?) and the angles he gets from his machine are amazing. These pictures don’t do him justice. You really need to get down to Mablethorpe and experience it for yourself.

One other rider, who I had not seen race before, but who had a successful meeting was Carl Streets. He was back on the sand after quite a lay off. Carl was good enough to write a few words for us, this his story.

Carl Streets 240

I started sand racing in 2007 in the junior 85cc motocross, winning one championship in that class. Moving into the junior 125cc motocross and spending a year in that class, I then won the next two championships. As soon as I hit 16 years of age I jumped straight into the 450mx class to claim 2nd in the championship.

In that class I had some great battles with George Picking, Adam Clover and also the Neave twins, what ever happened to them?! Not long after that season finished in 2011 I decided to stop racing for a while. Now I'm back after a 12 year layoff and I'm wining the 250 mx class championship.

I made my come back on a £800 barn find - a 2006 Honda CRF 250R that I threw some money at and made into a half decent bike. I continued to improve it after every round and made it look fresh again. However, a few new riders came along - some fast riders and my bike was more than likely the oldest and slowest in the class.

So to be competitive I had to trade it in and get myself a new fuel injection bike to have similar power. That decision was the right one as I’m right back up there! This meeting was the first ride on the bike I won 4/5 of my races so was a good day. 

I must just mention George Pickering and Steve Nicholls who now run the club. They do a great job, it's all organised properly and professionally, and I can't really knock them at all. It's great they’re keeping the club going as it was a big part of my childhood and was for a lot of the riders, so big shout out to those boys and hopefully another great season next year!

Thanks to RPW Photography for helping out with this report. If you are looking for pictures from this sand racing event or any turn left racing in Lincolnshire, head over to the Braking Point website where Jon is one of the official photographers.

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